Sunderland made eight signings during the summer transfer window.
Like most clubs, Sunderland were linked with a huge amount of players over the summer, from the laughable to the extreme.
David Moyes managed to add eight players to his squad, but a lot of Sunderland fans have still been left disappointed with the club’s transfer business.
The failure to land Yann M’Vila riled the red-and-white faithful on deadline day, while the lack of a new striker increases the pressure on 33-year-old Jermain Defoe, who is the only recognised centre-forward at the club.
Although things look better at the Stadium of Light than they did when Moyes arrived, they could be even better if they had landed more of their targets.
Here is a potential starting XI that Sunderland missed out on this summer.
Joe Hart
Joe Hart’s departure at Manchester City coincided with an injury to Sunderland’s Vito Mannone, and it seemed all too perfect that the England number one would end up on Wearside.
Instead, Hart went on loan to Italian side Torino, despite interest from the Black Cats, and Sunderland were left with just Jordan Pickford between the sticks while Mannone sits on the sidelines.
Danny Simpson
When DeAndre Yedlin returned to Tottenham after his loan spell, there was a gaping hole at right-back that needed filling.
Sunderland have added Javier Manquillo on loan and Donald Love from Manchester United, but they were linked with someone even better in Danny Simpson.
Sam Allardyce had cited the Premier League-winner as a possible recruit before he took the England job, but nothing materialised and Simpson remained at champions Leicester.
Neven Subotic
Having been told he could leave Borussia Dortmund, a range of Premier League teams were put on red alert, including Sunderland.
Serbian defender Subotic was a target for both Sunderland and Stoke, but neither got their man and the 27-year-old remained in Germany.
Subotic played a key part in Dortmund’s resurgence under Jurgen Klopp, and would have added experience to Sunderland’s defence, despite his injury problems.
Phil Jagielka
When Everton lined up Lamine Kone as a replacement for John Stones, Moyes was believed to be interested in reuniting with Jagielka to replace his Ivorian centre-back.
Had Kone gone, the England international would have been a perfect replacement, and is a player that Moyes could have trusted. Instead, he is left with an unsettled Kone, an untested Papy Djilobodji and an inexperienced Jason Denayer.
Davide Santon
At the beginning of the window, when Allardyce was still in charge, Sunderland had a deal lined up for former Newcastle defender Davide Santon.
In what would have been a shock move, the deal collapsed and the Italian did not return to the North East.
It seemed as though a deal was complete, until Sunderland released a statement stating that negotiations were over. Would he have been an improvement on Patrick van Aanholt? Probably not.
James McCarthy
Another Everton player linked was James McCarthy, who had wanted to leave Goodison Park with worries about the amount of games he would get.
With the Toffees linked with a deadline day move for Moussa Sissoko, it seemed as though opportunities for McCarthy would be even more limited, but Sissoko headed to Spurs and the Irish midfielder remained at Everton.
The 25-year-old would have been a sound addition to the Sunderland squad, and he would have been guaranteed the minutes he craves.
Vicente Iborra
Sevilla midfielder Vicente Iborra looked set to join Sunderland in the final week of the transfer window, until a deal broke down with the 27-year-old unwilling to relocate.
The Spaniard’s arrival would have softened the blow of missing out on M’Vila, but in the end Sunderland got neither of their targets this summer.
Although a move to the Premier League could have benefited Iborra’s career, it is refreshing to see someone refuse to move his family to a different country from where they are settled.
Sunderland’s loss is the Iborra family’s gain.
Marouane Fellaini
As soon as Moyes was announced as Sunderland boss, the rumours of the big Belgian midfielder coming to Wearside began.
Moyes openly admitted he was interested in Fellaini, but stated a deal would be difficult for financial reasons.
Money has been a big problem for Sunderland this summer, which is hard to understand from the outside with so many of their rivals spending big money.
Jay Rodriguez
With options so limited up front for Sunderland, Jay Rodriguez could have been the perfect recruit.
Similar to Fabio Borini, the Southampton man can operate either through the middle or out wide, and was linked with a loan move to the Stadium of Light.
The 27-year-old showed Sunderland fans what they are missing out on when the two sides met at St Mary’s, with Rodriguez bagging the equaliser in the 1-1 draw.
Edin Dzeko
One of the biggest names Sunderland were linked with this summer was former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko.
The Bosnian, now at Roma, was always a long shot, with the Italian club demanding a large fee and Dzeko boasting a large wage, but kudos to Sunderland for showing ambition by at least being interested.
Now 31, Dzeko was never really ‘the man’ at City, especially with Sergio Aguero as a teammate, but he could have thrived in a smaller Wearside pond alongside Defoe.
Danny Ings
Despite being linked with more high-profile names such as Wilfried Bony and Christian Benteke, their failed interest in Danny Ings could have been a much more worthwhile venture for Moyes.
With his pace and poacher-like qualities, Ings could have been the perfect understudy to Defoe, or even a partner for the experienced England international.
The Liverpool striker was another loan option for Sunderland, but the 24-year-old has remained at Anfield to fight for his place.
Of course, Sunderland could not sign all 11 of these players, but just one or two and red-and-white fans would surely be feeling more optimistic about their chances this season.
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